If you read my blog regularly, you know that I’m more drawn to historical lower class everyday clothing, especially rural working woman costumes. This is my newest peasant woman outfit: It consists of an unbleached chemise, unboned rural stays, bumroll and dyed-by-me corded petticoat and tucked skirt. An outfit like my historical farm girl outfit would’ve been worn in the 18th century or early Victorian era. And without the bumroll the working class woman costume is even suitable for the Edwardian era. Continue reading Historical Peasant Woman Outfit: Unboned Stays, Bumroll & Corded Petticoat
Tag Archives: working woman
How To Sew A Bum Roll
This bum roll pattern is suitable for the 18th century and early Victorian era (1830s and 1840s) particularly for working class wear. It creates a fashionable bell-shape, especially when you wear it with tucked and corded petticoats. Continue reading How To Sew A Bum Roll
How To Make Hay With A Scythe – History Of Haymaking

In the Victorian era, hay was made by hand with a scythe. But even today, a scythe is often used to cut grass and make hay. I love making hay with a scythe – it’s the best full body workout! Every summer, I make hay for our rabbits by hand with a scythe. Besides haymaking, the scythe is also perfect to cut grass on a hill in our garden that is too steep for a lawn mower.
‘Now, whilst the mowers are whetting their scythes, and the fragrant smell of the hay fills the summer air, let us sit on the haycock, and glance at the flowers around us.’ (English Wild Flowers, 1868)
Continue reading How To Make Hay With A Scythe – History Of Haymaking
Edwardian Athletic Corsets For The Edwardian Sportswoman

‘As every girl who loves the outdoor sports knows, corsets and athletics have long been on unfriendly terms with each other. For some strange reason, not entirely understood by those who devote a part of every day to athletics, the designers of feminine harness have made little or no study of a corset suitable for such exercise, and they certainly have made no effort to combine the straight front with the freedom of movement required in playing golf and tennis.
For the very first time on record peace has been established. We now have the pliable, easy straight front that is adapted to the needs of the athlete. Continue reading Edwardian Athletic Corsets For The Edwardian Sportswoman
Edwardian Woman Carpenter
‘Beautiful substantial articles that can be made by any woman of artistic tastes and strength enough to drive a hammer Continue reading Edwardian Woman Carpenter
DIY Solar Box Cooker
I’ve finally finished my DIY solar cooker. Yay! My DIY solar box cooker is a combination between a hay box and a solar cooker. I followed these instructions for a “minimum” solar box cooker. For the solar box cooker I used two cardboard boxes, hay, wheat paste as glue, aluminium foil and plexiglas. Continue reading DIY Solar Box Cooker
The Edwardian Summer Girl
The Edwardian summer girl is robust, strong and independent. She’s bare-armed, collarless, hatless and short-skirted: She doesn’t care if she gets freckles or a tan. She’s as good at sports as men: She swims, rows, hunts – she even plays barefoot golf! Continue reading The Edwardian Summer Girl
Medieval Stockings
I wanted to sew woven fabric stockings for a long time, and now I’ve finally sewn a pair of medieval fabric stockings! I like how they turned out. And they’re really comfortable to wear! Continue reading Medieval Stockings
18th C. Peach Bedgown – Nearly Finished
My 18th century manteau de lit is nearly finished – yay! 😀 Continue reading 18th C. Peach Bedgown – Nearly Finished
Adjusting The Pattern – Renaissance Stockings
Some days ago I had time to adjust the pattern of the medieval woven fabric stockings. Continue reading Adjusting The Pattern – Renaissance Stockings